Approved for All Ages

Living in the Time of Jesus- 3 Episodes

Network Premiere: National Geographic Channel, December 21, 2010,3-hour special (8PM – 11PM)

"Living in the Time of Jesus: Making a Living" - Jesus is said to have overturned the tables of money changers in the Temple. But who were these people, and whose money were they changing? Using famous Biblical stories as our guidebook, NGC opens a window into how people made ends meet 2,000 years ago. With the help of archaeologist, Biblical experts and mules, we'll get our hands dirty doing the jobs of ancient carpenters, shepherds and camel-riding merchants. See how the land was tilled, the taxes were collected and the Holy Temple was operated.

"Living in the Time of Jesus: Healing the Sick" - When you got sick in the first century, what did you do about it? It was the time of Jesus and his promise of healing miracles, but what did brain surgery look like? And, were there really any medical benefits to floating in the Dead Sea? NGC experts investigate the many sides of ancient health care to discover what people in Jesus' time knew - and didn't know - about medicine. Later, we'll try it for ourselves - watch as our team has their "bad blood" extracted by sucking leaches and gets covered in mud to treat a muscular condition.

"Living in the Time of Jesus: Crime and Punishment" - Two thousand years ago, temple guards and soldiers arrested Jesus, setting in motion the most infamous trail of all time. Who were all these people? What laws where they charged with enforcing? And, what brought them together on this fateful night? NGC moves through modern Jerusalem to pick up clues about what law and order looked like in the first century. How did everyone from the tax man to the flogger go about keeping the peace?
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Dove Review

Take a trip back to ancient Israel and Jerusalem but in modern times as host Arne Kislenko questions a variety of experts including rabbis and biblical experts in history and traditions. His findings and travels in the Holy Land is being aired on National Geographic Channel as a 3-hour special (8PM – 11PM) on December 21, 2010. .

The first disc, “Making a Living”, includes a recreation of Jesus overturning the money changer’s tables. The DVD features James Tabor, the Chair of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina. We see a woman spinning wool on a loom and learn more about ancient carpentry. It is hypothesized that Jesus was more of a stone mason than a wood-working carpenter, and that is about as controversial as this DVD gets. We learn more about making a living during the time of Christ as a fish shop is visited. The farming vocation is examined as well. Also, the unpopular tax collector is examined. The need to go into pool and the resulting body fluids such as semen and menstrual fluids finding their way into the waters is another topic this DVD tackles, which leads into the second volume of the three-disc set.

The second DVD continues with “Healing the Sick” and includes an interview with Professor Lior Rosenberg, M.D., from Soroka University Medical Center in Beer Sheva. We learn that surgeries were not common in Jesus’ time, mainly due to a lack of knowledge. Personal habits including going to the bathroom, having sex, and so forth is featured. As is Jesus’ healing of many sick. The Church of the Nativity is featured as well. As is the topic of spells and using amulets to break them. Rabbi Ken Spiro speaks about the superstition of those who believed they needed to break magic spells but that he doesn’t buy into it. Oren Zarif, an “energy healer”, is featured as well.

Finally, “Crime and Punishment” is the title of the final disc, disc three. Crucifixion and various punishments are examined and an interview with crucifixion historian Helen K. Bond is featured. Other forms of Jewish and Roman punishment are discussed including decapitation and being thrown to the lions.

With a likable host in Arne Kislenko, and several fascinating topics, as well as interesting locations, included in this DVD, this DVD set is a winner! We happily award the set our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal and although we recommend it for all ages, young children may not comprehend some of the material which is discussed and there a few sophisticated themes which might be a bit intense for them. Consult our content listing below.

Dove Rating Details

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Faith

None

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Integrity

Violent punishments such as crucifixion and decapitation and being thrown to the lions is briefly but not explicitly discussed; a brief recreation of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers; Jesus is seen on cross for a matter of seconds with a small amount of blood.

1
Sex

Brief mentions of couples having sex in biblical times.

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Language

None

1
Violence

Violent punishments such as crucifixion and decapitation and being thrown to the lions is briefly but not explicitly discussed; a brief recreation of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers; Jesus is seen on cross for a matter of seconds with a small amount of blood.

1
Drugs

Remedies are mentioned.

1
Nudity

Some cleavage; couples are seen bathing in pool; shirtless men.

1
Other

It's mentioned that Jesus might have been more of a stone mason than a carpenter; the topic of spells and how that some people believed in them and in incantations; a leech is placed on man to help with blood poisoning so that it might draw the poison out; ancient toilets are seen; it is stated some people committed suicide after putting others to death before the Romans broke in to kill them.

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